Several years ago I decided to learn how to make flutes from our native
"bamboo" or river cane, Arundinaria
gigantea. Being a long time fan of the great
Native American
flutist, Carlos Nakai and also being intrigued and moved by the Celtic
low whistle music of Irish musicians such as Davy Spillane, I embarked
on the challenge of making a flute using the Native American sound
production mechanism combined with the fingering of the Irish Penny Whistle.
The first challenge was to duplicate the sound mechanism of the Native
America flute and produce my first clear note on the piece of river
cane. This is truly a rewarding experience in itself. The
first time I was able to blow into the river cane and produce a note I
felt as though I had performed a miracle! I am sure the first
flute makers felt the same sense of awe as they discovered how to
produce music with a piece of wood or bone.

THE PROCESS

After carving a flat surface across the top joint of the bamboo, drill
a small hole on either side of that joint and make your cap to cover
the top tone hole of the blank flute. See the series of
photographs below.

Here are the finger hole multipliers for a 6 hole flute: Measure the
distance from the lower edge of the tone hole to the bottom edge of the
flute body (17 1/2 inches, for example) and multiply this measurement
by the following proportions: (Hole #1 is the top finger hole and hole
#6 is the bottom finger hole.)

#1 = 0.46

#2 = 0.52

#3 = 0.60

#4 = 0.68

#5 = 0.73

#6 = 0.80

With much trial and error I came up with the general length and
diameter of river cane or bamboo that works best for making flutes in
the key of F and G minor.

Distance from the bottom of the tone hole to
the bottom of
the flute: 17 1/2 inches

Inside diameter of the flute: 5/8 of an inch

The river cane flutes I make enable me to play in both the pentatonic
scale (Native American style) and the diatonic scale (our major and
minor scales as we know them). With these flutes I can play both
Celtic and Native American styles on the same instrument.